Beyond Labels

We decided last week to discuss the possibility of a multi-party electoral system in the US. I’ve looked at a number of articles describing the pros and cons of such a system, but haven’t found any single article that’s particularly good. However, here’s an article that summarizes pretty well the points made in the other articles I’ve looked at. Also, here’s a recent opinion piece by Jamelle Bouie (Scott’s favorite New York Times columnist) that raises interesting questions about what might be required to allow viable third parties to arise here.

I think we decided last Monday to talk about the latest developments in Ukraine. Topics might include any of the following:

How long can/will the US and Europe continue to supply arms and aid to Ukraine?

What role is Turkey playing in the conflict – mediator, in the case of the purported agreement to allow Ukraine to export grain? Spoiler, in the case of its repeated threats to veto the admission to NATO of Finland and Sweden?

Is there an end game to the conflict? If so, what is it for Russia? Ukraine? the US? the EU? Or is it still to soon to come up with any?

What lessons are China and the US learning from the conflict in Ukraine that might be relevant to a possible conflict over Taiwan in the near future?

Why do a large majority of Russians seem to support the war (aside from not wanting to risk jail by publicly opposing it)? Although it might be a dubious attempt to analyze the Russian national psyche, I think this opinion piece from the 26 July edition of the New York Times isn’t far off the mark (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/26/opinion/russia-ukraine-putin.html?smid=em-share).